Top support structure of tent

ABSTRACT

A top support structure of tent includes a hub for a plurality of poles. The hub is provided with a plurality of connector members, each having an abutting face and being pivoted to two pivot pieces of a pivot holder, to which the pole of the tent is coupled. A fastening member is pivotally inserted between the two pivot pieces of the pivot holder. The inner end of the fastening member is formed with an abutting portion opposing to the abutting face of the connector member, the outer end of which is provided with a press portion extending over the pivot holder. A spring is positioned between the inner end of the fastening member and the pivot holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tent, and more particularly to a topsupport structure of a tent.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are various tents on the market. In general, the tent comprises atent cloth and a tent frame to support the tent cloth. The tent frame isa foldable structure. In order to fold or unfold the tent, the tent isprovided with a top support structure. Chinese Utility Model Reg. No.200720007891.9 discloses a top connection module of a tent, as shown inFIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The tent frame is composed of a plurality of poles.The inner ends of the poles 1 are connected through a top connectionmodule 2. The top connection module 2 comprises a main body 21. The mainbody 21 comprises a plurality of U-shaped pivot seats 22, each having anopening facing downward. Each pivot seat 22 is pivotally connected witha connector 23. The U-shaped inner wall of the pivot seat 22 has anengaging trough 222. The connector 23 is connected with the pole 1. Theconnector 23 has a slot 231 for connection of a pivot axle 221 of thepivot seat 22. The connector 23 further comprises an engaging block 232corresponding to the engaging trough 222 of the pivot seat 22. When thetent is unfolded, the poles 1 will be pulled to extend. The outer endsof the poles 1 are fixed, and the inner ends of the poles 1 are slightlycurved and have inward support force. The main body 21 of the topconnection module 2 is pressed downward, and the engaging block 232 isslid in the engaging trough 222 by the inward support force of the pole1. The engaging block 232 is engaged with the engaging trough 222 toprevent the pole 1 from bending downward and to support the tent cloth.The top of the connector 23 is against the U-shaped bottom of the pivotseat 22 to prevent the pole 1 from bending upward. The aforesaidstructure is simple and the operation is very convenient. However, onlythe engaging block 232 is used to prevent the pole 1 from bendingdownward when the tent is unfolded. The size of the engaging block 232is limited. After a period of use, the engaging block 232 may break toinfluence the service life of the tent.

Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himselfbased on his many years of practical experiences to solve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a top supportstructure for a tent. The top support structure is durable and can beoperated conveniently.

According to a first aspect, the top support structure of the presentinvention comprises a hub and a plurality of connector members on thehub. Each connector member is pivotally connected to two pivot pieces ofa pivot holder. Each connector member has an abutting face thereon. Thepivot holder is connected with a tent pole. A fastening member ispivotally connected between the two pivot pieces of the pivot holder.The fastening member has an abutting portion at an inner end thereofrelative to the abutting face of the connector member and a pressportion at an outer end thereof. The press portion extends out of thepivot holder. A spring is provided between the inner end of thefastening member and the pivot holder. Each connector member has acurved slot. The pivot holder is provided with a pivot axle to connectthe relative connector member. The pivot holder is provided with apositioning axle inserting through the curved slot.

Preferably, the connector members are respectively connected to the hub.

Preferably, the connector members are integrally formed with the hub.

Preferably, the inner wall or outer wall of the pivot holder is providedwith a reinforcement member.

Preferably, the hub is provided with a decoration cover.

According to a second aspect, the top support structure of the presentinvention comprises a hub and a plurality of connector members on thehub. Each connector member is pivotally connected to two pivot pieces ofa pivot holder. Each connector member has an abutting face thereon. Thepivot holder is connected with a tent pole. A fastening member ispivotally connected between the two pivot pieces of the pivot holder.The fastening member has an abutting portion at an inner end thereofrelative to the abutting face of the connector member and a pressportion at an outer end thereof. The press portion extends out of thepivot holder. A spring is provided between the inner end of thefastening member and the pivot holder. The pivot holder comprises a stopplate connected between upper ends of the two pivot pieces to holdagainst an upper end of the relative connector member.

Preferably, the connector members are respectively connected to the hub.

Preferably, the connector members are integrally formed with the hub.

Preferably, the inner wall or outer wall of the pivot holder is providedwith a reinforcement member.

Preferably, the hub is provided with a decoration cover.

Accordingly, the abutting portion of the fastening member holds againstthe abutting face of the connector member to prevent the tent pole frombending downward. The positioning axle cooperates with the curved slotto prevent the tent pole from bending upward. Alternatively, the stopplate of the pivot holder holds against the upper end of the relativeconnector member to prevent the tent pole from bending upward. Thefastening member is a separate structure, which can be larger in size tohold against the abutting face of the connector member so the engagementis stable and durable. When operated, the user just presses the pressportion of the fastening member so the operation is very convenient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional top support structure for atent;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the conventional top support structure ina folded state;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is another exploded view according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the present invention applied to atent;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the first embodiment of the presentinvention in a folded state;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is another exploded view according to the second embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 11 is an exploded view according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 12 is an exploded view according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the top support structure according to afirst embodiment of the present invention comprises a hub 9 and aplurality of connector members 8 which are integrally formed with thehub 9. Each connector member 8 is pivotally connected with a pivotholder 7. The pivot holder 7 is further connected with a pole 1.

The connector member 8 has a pivot hole 82 and a curved slot 83 whichare concentric. The connector member 8 further has an abutting face 84at a front end thereof.

The pivot holder 7 has two pivot pieces 71. In order to enhance itsstrength, the inner and outer walls of the pivot holder 7 are providedwith reinforcement members 75 which correspond in shape to the pivotholder 7 and are made of metal or hard plastic, as shown in FIG. 4.Alternatively, the inner walls or the outer walls of the left and rightsides of the pivot holder 7 are provided with the reinforcement members75 to enhance the strength of the pivot pieces 71, as shown in FIG. 3.If the pivot holder 7 made of metal and hard plastic has enoughstrength, the reinforcement members 75 can be omitted. The connectormember 8 is connected between the two pivot pieces 71 of the pivotholder 7 through a pivot axle 72. A positioning axle 73 is insertedthrough the curved slot 83 of the connector member 8 and riveted to thepivot pieces 71 of the pivot holder 7.

A fastening member 6 is pivotally connected between the two pivot pieces71 of the pivot holder 7. The fastening member 6 has an abutting portion61 at an inner end thereof relative to the abutting face 84 of theconnector member 8. The fastening member 6 has a press portion 62 at anouter end thereof. The press portion 62 extends out of the pivot holder7. A spring 5 is provided between the inner end of the fastening member6 and the pivot holder 7.

When the present invention is assembled, the abutting portion 61 of thefastening member 6 holds against the abutting face 84 of the connectormember 8 to prevent the pivot holder 7 and the connector member 8 frombending downward. The positioning axle 73 of the pivot holder 7 islocated at the lower end of the curved slot 83 of the connector member 8to prevent the pivot holder 7 and the connector member 8 from bendingupward. As shown in FIG. 6, the present invention is applied to a tentin an unfolding state. For the purpose of beauty, the hub 9 is providedwith a decoration cover 4.

When folding the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the pressportion 62 of the fastening member 6 is pressed for the abutting portion61 to disengage from the abutting face 84 of the connector 8. Thus, thepivot holder 7 can be bent relative to the connector member 8, and thepositioning axle 73 slides along the curved slot 83 of the connectormember 8 to fold the pole 1 so that the tent is folded.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment, the top support structure comprises a hub 9 and aplurality of connector member 8 which are integrally formed with the hub9. Each connector member 8 is pivotally connected with a pivot holder 7.In order to enhance the strength of the pivot holder 7, the inner andouter walls of the pivot holder 7 are provided with reinforcementmembers 75 which correspond in shape to the pivot holder 7 and are madeof metal or hard plastic, as shown in FIG. 8. Alternatively, the innerwalls or the outer walls of the left and right sides of the pivot holder7 are provided with the reinforcement members 75 to enhance the strengthof the pivot pieces 71, as shown in FIG. 9. If the pivot holder 7 madeof metal and hard plastic has enough strength, the reinforcement members75 can be omitted as the first embodiment. A pole 1 is fixed to thepivot holder 7. The pivot holder 7 is pivotally connected with afastening member 6. The difference between the second embodiment and thefirst embodiment is that the structure to prevent the connector member 8and the pivot holder 7 from bending upward. In the first embodiment, thecurved slot 83 of the connector member 8 cooperates with the positioningaxle 73 of the pivot holder 7 to prevent the connector member 8 and thepivot holder 7 from bending upward. In the second embodiment, there isno curved slot and positioning axle. The pivot holder 7 comprises a stopplate 74 connected between the upper ends of the two pivot pieces 71.When the pivot holder 7 is bent upward, the stop plate 74 holds againstthe upper end of the connector member 8 to prevent the connector member8 and the pivot holder 7 from bending upward.

In the aforesaid embodiments, the connector members 8 are integrallyformed with the hub 9. The connector members 8 and the hub 9 can bedesigned to be separate, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12. The connectormembers 8 and the hub 9 have corresponding fixing holes 81, 91 forconnection and are connected through pivot axles or rivets (not shown inthe drawings). The function is same as the aforesaid connector member,and won't be described again.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail for purposes of illustration, various modificationsand enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not tobe limited except as by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A top support structure for a tent, comprising ahub and a plurality of connector members on the hub, each connectormember being pivotally connected to two pivot pieces of a pivot holder,each connector member having an abutting face thereon, the pivot holderbeing connected with a tent pole, a fastening member being pivotallyconnected between the two pivot pieces of the pivot holder, thefastening member having an abutting portion at an inner end thereofrelative to the abutting face of the connector member and a pressportion at an outer end thereof, the press portion extending out of thepivot holder, a spring being provided between the inner end of thefastening member and the pivot holder, each connector member having acurved slot, the pivot holder being provided with a pivot axle toconnect the relative connector member, the pivot holder being providedwith a positioning axle inserting through the curved slot.
 2. The topsupport structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connector membersare respectively connected to the hub.
 3. The top support structure asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the connector members are integrally formedwith the hub.
 4. The top support structure as claimed in claim 1,wherein the hub is provided with a decoration cover.
 5. The top supportstructure as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an inner wall oran outer wall of the pivot holder is provided with a reinforcementmember.
 6. A top support structure for a tent, comprising a hub and aplurality of connector members on the hub, each connector member beingpivotally connected to two pivot pieces of a pivot holder, eachconnector member having an abutting face thereon, the pivot holder beingconnected with a tent pole, a fastening member being pivotally connectedbetween the two pivot pieces of the pivot holder, the fastening memberhaving an abutting portion at an inner end thereof relative to theabutting face of the connector member and a press portion at an outerend thereof, the press portion extending out of the pivot holder, aspring being provided between the inner end of the fastening member andthe pivot holder, the pivot holder comprising a stop plate connectedbetween upper ends of the two pivot pieces to hold against an upper endof the relative connector member.
 7. The top support structure asclaimed in claim 6, wherein the connector members are respectivelyconnected to the hub.
 8. The top support structure as claimed in claim6, wherein the connector members are integrally formed with the hub. 9.The top support structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the hub isprovided with a decoration cover.
 10. The top support structure asclaimed in one of claims 6 to 9, wherein an inner wall or an outer wallof the pivot holder is provided with a reinforcement member.